Markets: 2026-09-25 Close

A sourced recap of the previous completed U.S. trading session. Closing moves are not real-time quotes.

The market tape

- **S&P 500 (SPX)**: +0.51%, closed at 7,743.41 - **Nasdaq Composite (COMP)**: +0.48%, closed at 27,068.72 - **Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)**: +0.93%, closed at 51,828.62 - **Russell 2000 (RUT)**: +0.07%, closed at 2,837.55

Sector leaders and laggards

- Leaders: Industrials +0.99%; Technology +0.73%; Health Care +0.52% - Laggards: Energy -0.87%; Real Estate -0.32%

Notable movers

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) +3.20%

Akamai announced an $11.6 billion, seven-year cloud-services commitment from Anthropic, with potential expansion and an equity warrant. The stock finished higher but well below its Friday intraday high. An unusually high-volume response to a contract large relative to Akamai's existing business.

Sources: Regular-session closing move · Market capitalization and session volume · Primary company announcement

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) +3.66%

Microsoft introduced an updated Copilot experience with Home, Code and Autopilot capabilities; Reuters reported that the announcement helped lift its shares. The session's gain in a mega-cap software company made it a significant contributor to the broader advance.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Primary announcement · Reported market reaction; quoted stock move was intraday

Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) +8.27%

Rebounded after Thursday's decline on concerns about delays to an Oracle data-center project. Reporting said Oracle maintained that the project was on track; no fresh Friday company announcement was identified. A large reversal in a heavily traded data-center power supplier.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Reported context; not a confirmed new Friday announcement

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) +2.93%

Costco reported fiscal fourth-quarter results after Thursday's close, including higher net sales and diluted earnings per share of $6.75 versus $5.87 a year earlier. A liquid post-earnings advance in a large consumer-staples company.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Primary earnings release

Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) -6.29%

The Financial Times reportedly said Gen Digital had made an initial takeover approach for GoDaddy. The reported approach was preliminary, not an announced acquisition. Acquisition speculation accompanied a second consecutive steep decline in the prospective buyer.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Reported, unannounced approach

Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) +5.01%

Reporting linked the rally to Morgan Stanley assigning greater weight to an upside scenario for Dell amid demand for AI infrastructure. That scenario is an analyst assessment, not company guidance. A nearly $5 billion estimated dollar-volume session in a major AI-server supplier.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Market capitalization · Reported analyst catalyst; article quotes an intraday move

Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) -3.33%

Shares pulled back after a rapid advance associated with enthusiasm for Meta's Muse AI product. No distinct Friday company catalyst was confirmed. A substantial mega-cap decline despite gains in the major indexes.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Context for the preceding rally and Friday retreat

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) +4.64%

Takeover speculation circulated Friday, but the reported potential bid was unverified. It should not be treated as an announced offer. Heavy trading in a payments company as unverified acquisition chatter resurfaced.

Sources: September 25 closing move and volume · Explicitly unverified takeover chatter

Stock spotlight

Today’s detailed follow-up focuses on **Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM)**, the strongest verified editorial candidate from this slate.

_MacroShed Markets is informational analysis, not investment advice._